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A report in today's NZ Herald show that we're flocking across the ditch at rates not seen for almost 20 years -- and for what?

Well high on the list seems to be the promise of higher pay rates for skilled and unskilled workers alike - but is that enough?

If you listen to Michael Cullen, you'll be paying more tax across the Tasman - but somehow his claims don't seem to add up in reality and most of those taking the plunge will find themselves better off financially.

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But will folks working in technology-related industries even be able to find a job in Oz?

Well although their headline rate of unemployment seems higher than NZ's, it's pretty obvious that our government is performing some serious slight of hand when it claims we're almost at the point of full employment.

Every time I write a column on the issue of hi-tech jobs in NZ I get plenty of emails from readers who wish to debunk the claim that there's a skills shortage, at least in the IT sector.

I tend to believe these readers, after all, this government has effectively turned most Kiwi families into beneficiaries through its aggressively high taxes and "Working for Families" scheme.

By the way, have you noticed that in the TV ads for these hand-outs, none of the families featured seem to be lacking any of the trappings of serious middle-class?

Mom and the kids both have mobile phones, there's plenty of fruit on the table, everyone's well dressed, the house is probably worth a quarter of a million dollars and they're all fit and healthy. So why on earth do these people need to be on some kind of welfare?

Maybe the real reason Kiwis want to escape to Oz is because they won't be insulted by having a government take a big wad of their wages and then hand back a smaller amount to "help them out".

But it's not just Kiwi citizens who are heading for Oz -- no, it seems that Indranet is also pitching its shares and trying to raise capital from those unsuspecting Australians.

I'm sure you all remember Indranet don't you?

It's that NZ technology company that made some impressive claims about having developed intelligent mesh-network wireless systems that were going to be revolutionary in scope, concept and performance.

Well that didn't really seem to happen so they decided to take what was left of their shareholder's funds and buy a license to manufacture air-powered cars (I kid you not).

Now the cars seem to have been enveloped in their own hot-air and the company has gone back to its roots. Attempts to raise more money seem to have been a bust (is it any wonder) so they're off to Oz to try and convince some silly Aussies to part with their cash -- perhaps in the hope that nobody's heard of them over there. I repeat my "avoid, avoid, avoid" warnings on Indranet.

But it seems that many Kiwis really do believe that Australia is a land of milk and honey...

That is however, if you don't mind a scaled down version of the USA with big brother looking over your shoulder and assuming that everyone is a potential terrorist.

Nah, despite the fact that we increasingly appear to have a government that is made up of crooks and idiots, at least they remain relatively benign by comparison to so many other overseas destinations.

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